Grand Slam (Vegas Heat: Bases Loaded Book 5)

CHAPTER 1 DANNY

The flashes of the cameras are literally blinding. I keep my head down to give her the spotlight, but she tugs on my hand as if she needs me beside her.

I glance up, and I smile.

Of course I smile.

I’m nervous as fuck. I’m not used to this level of attention, though I’m no stranger to the paparazzi.

I need her to know I’m right here, so I clutch her hand tightly. She squeezes mine back as she smiles and waves, her pop star persona firmly back in place.

It’s a side I’ve only seen glimpses of—and never from this perspective.

It’s still her underneath the fa?ade, but the wide smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes the way it does when I’ve said something to make her laugh.

It’s only now that I see how very well I know her. These people here think they know her, but all they know is what she’s allowed them to see. All they know is the veneer she or her dad or some combination of the two have crafted.

But I know her heart. Of course I do. Because when someone’s meant for you, your hearts speak a language nobody else could ever understand.

And I know damn well that Caroline Alexis Bodega is meant for me. I think I knew that somehow intrinsically before I ever met her. There’s a deep connection pulling us together, and we will not allow anybody to break that.

They’ll try.

Her dad will try.

Brooks will try.

Maybe even her fans, though I can’t imagine they’d want us apart when they see the genuine smile on her face as she looks up into my eyes.

Like she’s doing now.

I see the anxiety there, the silent conversation to look to my left, and I do. I spot her father standing beside Brooks, and they both look like they’re going to bust a vein in their foreheads even from here, even with the bright lights and the constant flashes attacking us.

We make our way up to the step and repeat—the series of panels with the logo for tonight’s event repeated over and over across a series of panels where the stars can come tonight to have their photo taken.

I step back to allow my beautiful wife to take photos solo first, and then she nods toward me, and I join her for our first official public photos.

I slide my arm around her waist, and she leans into me. I can’t see her face since we’re both looking at the cameras, but I know her smile is wide.

She glances up at me, and I look down at her, and I know the photo is captured of the loving look we’re sharing.

It’ll spark a million rumors. The Bodegiacs will be going crazy trying to figure out this latest puzzle. Is she working with the Vegas Heat? Is she leaving her management company? Did she have a falling out with her father—the man who, at least according to the entire world, is her hero, her closest ally, her best friend?

It’s not a puzzle at all, though.

It’s simply true love.

After we smile for the cameras, we step down. We’re escorted into the building to a room that’s not too far from the stage. A placard on the door lets us know which one is for Alexis.

Standing just outside the door is Gregory.

Alexis runs into his arms. “I’m so happy you’re here!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, ma’am.” He gives me a nod over her shoulder, and I nod back politely.

The assistant leading us opens the door for us, and Brooks and Alexis’s father are waiting in the room.

Her father turns to me first. “I should have you arrested for kidnapping her,” he hisses to me once the assistant leaves and seals us into privacy. He looks over at Gregory next. “And I fired you. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Daddy, stop,” Alexis says. “Danny didn’t kidnap me. I asked him to run away with me. And as for Gregory, I hired him, and you know what? He’s one of the few people I can actually trust.” She turns to Gregory. “You are not fired. You’re very much still the head of my security team.”

He ignores her and looks at me again. “What the fuck have you done to my daughter?”

I press my lips together, refusing to back down from this man. “I fell in love.”

“Love? Love? That’s nice. Now get out.” His command is firm.

“He’s not going anywhere,” Alexis says softly, linking her arm through mine at the elbow and hugging mine to her chest. “He’s here to stay because I fell in love with him, too.”

I think she’s about to expand on that with exactly where our love led us when her father roars at us. “Where the hell have you been? You ran out on the wedding, and I’ve been working nonstop to fight off the media and their thousands of questions while chasing you down for the last nine days!”

“We didn’t want to be found. We needed time,” she says softly.

“You don’t get time!” he yells. “You don’t get to make those decisions!”

“So I was just supposed to marry Brooks because you told me to?” she presses, and I’m not sure she should be poking an angry bear, but the words are out.

“Yes. That’s exactly what you were supposed to do.” His volume is lower, but the threat is still behind his words.

She shakes her head. “You don’t control me. I will not allow it a second longer.” Her arms are still wrapped around one of mine, and she’s squeezing so hard I’m fairly certain I’m losing circulation, but I deal with it. I’m here to hold her up however I can.

“You don’t have a choice, little girl,” he hisses.

“I’m not a little girl anymore, and it’s high time I take control of my life,” she shoots back.

“You signed that control away,” he reminds her.

“When I was sixteen. Sixteen! Don’t you get that? I’m two years from thirty, and you’re still acting like I’m a child!”

We all hear a soft knock at the door interrupting the incredibly tense moment between father and daughter while the three other men in the room watch the spectacle unfolding before us.

Gregory glances around the room before he heads over to open it.

“Ms. Bodega, we need you backstage for some lighting tests,” another assistant tells us.

Alexis nods. “Yes, of course.” She’s composed as always despite the fight with her father when she turns to look at me. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say softly.

She looks into my eyes a few more beats, and then she nods before she turns to follow the assistant out of the room.

When the door closes and I’m left alone with these three men, my chest tightens. At least I know Gregory is on my side, but they don’t trust him.

I can’t be the one to tell her father that we’re married now, but the rings on our left hands didn’t do us any favors to hide that fact. We’re not hiding it, anyway. But I’m sure she’d want to be here for that particular announcement.

“I’ll ask you again, boy,” her father hisses at me. “What have you done to my girl?”

Well, aside from the fact that she’s my girl now…

I don’t lead with that.

“I told you, sir. I simply fell in love with her.”

He shakes his head. “That’s not good enough.” He takes a step toward me as if he’s going to intimidate me into relenting, but he’s an older man who’s still recovering from two recent bouts with pneumonia. Healthy or not, he’s no match for a professional athlete.

I stand my ground firmly.

“I will ruin you, Mr. Brewer. Do you understand me?” he threatens. “I will ruin you and your family and everything dear to you if you carry on with this charade.”

“Leave my family the fuck out of this. It’s between Alexis and me, and I will not stand here listening to your threats when I’m here to support Alexis.” I spin on my heel with those words and exit the little room, beelining for the stage to be with my girl instead of listening to her father’s empty threats for another second.

At least…I hope they’re just empty threats.